THEAETETUS [34]
of false
opinion, because otherwise the same person would inevitably know and
not know the same thing at the same time.
Theaet. Most true.
Soc. Then false opinion cannot be explained as a confusion of
thought and sense, for in that case we could not have been mistaken
about pure conceptions of thought; and thus we are obliged to say,
either that false opinion does not exist, or that a man may not know
that which he knows;-which alternative do you prefer?
Theaet. It is hard to determine, Socrates.
Soc. And yet the argument will scarcely admit of both. But, as we
are at our wits' end, suppose that we do a shameless thing?
Theaet. What is it?
Soc. Let us attempt to explain the verb "to know."
Theaet. And why should that be shameless?
Soc. You seem not to be aware that the whole of our discussion
from the very beginning has been a search after knowledge, of which we
are assumed not to know the nature.
Theaet. Nay, but I am well aware.
Soc. And is it not shameless when we do not know what knowledge
is, to be explaining the verb "to know"? The truth is, Theaetetus,
that we have long been infected with logical impurity. Thousands of
times have we repeated the words "we know," and "do not know," and "we
have or have not science or knowledge," as if we could understand what
we are saying to one another, so long as we remain ignorant about
knowledge; and at this moment we are using the words "we
understand," "we are ignorant," as though we could still employ them
when deprived of knowledge or science.
Theaet. But if you avoid these expressions, Socrates, how will you
ever argue at all?
Soc. I could not, being the man I am. The case would be different if
I were a true hero of dialectic: and O that such an one were
present! for he would have told us to avoid the use of these terms; at
the same time he would not have spared in you and me the faults
which I have noted. But, seeing that we are no great wits, shall I
venture to say what knowing is? for I think that the attempt may be
worth making.
Theaet. Then by all means venture, and no one shall find fault
with you for using the forbidden terms.
Soc. You have heard the common explanation of the verb "to know"?
Theaet. I think so, but I do not remember it at the moment.
Soc. They explain the word "to know" as meaning "to have knowledge."
Theaet. True.
Soc. I should like to make a slight change, and say "to possess"
knowledge.
Theaet. How do the two expressions differ?
Soc. Perhaps there may be no difference; but still I should like you
to hear my view, that you may help me to test it.
Theaet. I will, if I can.
Soc. I should distinguish "having" from "possessing": for example, a
man may buy and keep under his control a garment which he does not
wear; and then we should say, not that he has, but that he possesses
the garment.
Theaet. It would be the correct expression.
Soc. Well, may not a man "possess" and yet not "have" knowledge in
the sense of which I am speaking? As you may suppose a man to have
caught wild birds -doves or any other birds-and to be keeping them
in an aviary which he has constructed at home; we might say of him
in one sense, that he always has them because he possesses them, might
we not?
Theaet. Yes.
Soc. And yet, in another sense, he has none of them; but they are in
his power, and he has got them under his hand in an enclosure of his
own, and can take and have them whenever he likes;-he can catch any
which he likes, and let the bird go again, and he may do so as often
as he pleases.
Theaet. True.
Soc. Once more, then, as in what preceded we made a sort of waxen
figment in the mind, so let us now suppose that in the mind of each
man there is an aviary of all sorts of birds-some flocking together
apart from the rest, others in small groups, others solitary, flying
anywhere and everywhere.
Theaet. Let us imagine such an aviary-and what is to follow?
Soc. We may suppose
opinion, because otherwise the same person would inevitably know and
not know the same thing at the same time.
Theaet. Most true.
Soc. Then false opinion cannot be explained as a confusion of
thought and sense, for in that case we could not have been mistaken
about pure conceptions of thought; and thus we are obliged to say,
either that false opinion does not exist, or that a man may not know
that which he knows;-which alternative do you prefer?
Theaet. It is hard to determine, Socrates.
Soc. And yet the argument will scarcely admit of both. But, as we
are at our wits' end, suppose that we do a shameless thing?
Theaet. What is it?
Soc. Let us attempt to explain the verb "to know."
Theaet. And why should that be shameless?
Soc. You seem not to be aware that the whole of our discussion
from the very beginning has been a search after knowledge, of which we
are assumed not to know the nature.
Theaet. Nay, but I am well aware.
Soc. And is it not shameless when we do not know what knowledge
is, to be explaining the verb "to know"? The truth is, Theaetetus,
that we have long been infected with logical impurity. Thousands of
times have we repeated the words "we know," and "do not know," and "we
have or have not science or knowledge," as if we could understand what
we are saying to one another, so long as we remain ignorant about
knowledge; and at this moment we are using the words "we
understand," "we are ignorant," as though we could still employ them
when deprived of knowledge or science.
Theaet. But if you avoid these expressions, Socrates, how will you
ever argue at all?
Soc. I could not, being the man I am. The case would be different if
I were a true hero of dialectic: and O that such an one were
present! for he would have told us to avoid the use of these terms; at
the same time he would not have spared in you and me the faults
which I have noted. But, seeing that we are no great wits, shall I
venture to say what knowing is? for I think that the attempt may be
worth making.
Theaet. Then by all means venture, and no one shall find fault
with you for using the forbidden terms.
Soc. You have heard the common explanation of the verb "to know"?
Theaet. I think so, but I do not remember it at the moment.
Soc. They explain the word "to know" as meaning "to have knowledge."
Theaet. True.
Soc. I should like to make a slight change, and say "to possess"
knowledge.
Theaet. How do the two expressions differ?
Soc. Perhaps there may be no difference; but still I should like you
to hear my view, that you may help me to test it.
Theaet. I will, if I can.
Soc. I should distinguish "having" from "possessing": for example, a
man may buy and keep under his control a garment which he does not
wear; and then we should say, not that he has, but that he possesses
the garment.
Theaet. It would be the correct expression.
Soc. Well, may not a man "possess" and yet not "have" knowledge in
the sense of which I am speaking? As you may suppose a man to have
caught wild birds -doves or any other birds-and to be keeping them
in an aviary which he has constructed at home; we might say of him
in one sense, that he always has them because he possesses them, might
we not?
Theaet. Yes.
Soc. And yet, in another sense, he has none of them; but they are in
his power, and he has got them under his hand in an enclosure of his
own, and can take and have them whenever he likes;-he can catch any
which he likes, and let the bird go again, and he may do so as often
as he pleases.
Theaet. True.
Soc. Once more, then, as in what preceded we made a sort of waxen
figment in the mind, so let us now suppose that in the mind of each
man there is an aviary of all sorts of birds-some flocking together
apart from the rest, others in small groups, others solitary, flying
anywhere and everywhere.
Theaet. Let us imagine such an aviary-and what is to follow?
Soc. We may suppose